“Sex, like race, is a visible, immutable characteristic bearing no necessary relationship to ability.
Sex, like race, has been made the basis for unjustified or at least unproved assumptions, concerning an individual’s potential to perform or to contribute to society…
These distinctions have a common effect: They help keep a woman in her place, a place inferior to that occupied by men in our society.”
-Excerpts from Justice Ginsburg’s first oral argument during Frontier v. Richardson in 1973.
These words only provide you with a glimpse of fervency that Ruth Bader Ginsburg embodied and was the catalyst in changing America’s landscape on sex discrimination just two decades prior to her appointment as the second woman to serve as a Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. As a warrior for gender justice, abortion access, and voting rights, Justice Ginsburg’s extraordinary fight for women’s rights and civil rights law is immeasurable.
This year has been one of great loss as we are in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and I’d like to remind you that it’s okay to take a moment for yourself and practice self care. Justice Ginsburg has advised, “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” In order to do this, self-preservation is key. Therefore, know that it’s okay to take a moment to breathe and then once you have caught your breath, fight, and fight hard.
We have taken that time to mourn and breathe, now it’s time to fight and carry the torch of justice along with our fellow warriors in this movement. So let’s continue the fight for justice in honor of Justice Ginsburg and her extraordinary legacy.
As you may be aware, the Trump administration is using Justice Ginsburg’s passing as subterfuge to nominate and pass through a new Supreme Court Justice any day now. Our partner in this work, Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center said it best, “The fundamental rights of millions of people hang in the balance right now—and so does the incredible legacy of Justice Ginsburg.” From survivors’ rights, women’s health, immigrant rights, LGBTQ rights, racial justice, voting rights, and so much more, there is a lot that is at stake.
Therefore, we have some immediate action you can take:
- Join us in engaging with the National Women’s Law Center by reaching out to Tell Your Senators: No New Supreme Court Justice Before Inauguration.
- If you are not registered to vote, please take approx. 2 minutes to go to our online voter registration page and register to vote TODAY. As a partner in the Gender Equity Voter Collaboration, we are supporting Fuel the Vote, a national drive-through food and voter registration drive to support local communities impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they are registered and ready to vote ahead of the November election. These community events will include a live local DJ and volunteers focused on helping to provide a critical need to the community while also helping people get registered and ready to vote. This initiative is hosted by: Project Isaiah, Wondaland, Live Nation Urban, When We All Vote and the United State of Women. Walk-ups will not be permitted, and participants will be required to stay in their cars. If individuals do not have a mask, When We All Vote will provide one. For more information, please visit the website: whenweallvote.org/fuelthevote.
We must honor Justice Ginsburg’s legacy and protect the rights of those whose lives hang in the balance. This is our court. Our rights. Our future.
Together, we fight.
